Many of the challenges that come with breastfeeding involve sacrifices and convenience, and for me, the benefits greatly outweigh them. However some women choose alternative methods of feeding, and I hold no judgement towards them for doing so. As I have mentioned before, I do not know the circumstances of every mother and baby. That being said, I believe breastfeeding is the best choice, even if it is not the only choice. I hope this research helps you make the choice that best suits you and your little one.

The Challenges:

IT’S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS 1-2-3.

Women are designed to provide for their children. One very special way we are able to do that is by breastfeeding. It is a beautiful quality God gave us, a gift. However, it does not always come naturally for everyone. My firstborn son had some trouble latching, and we had to supplement with formula for the first few weeks of his life. Granted he went straight to the NICU at birth and we did not get the initial hours of skin to skin contact (I strongly believe this helps with that initial latch and suckle). There are several factors that can go into a successful feed. It takes a lot of practice, patience, time and energy, all of which can be difficult to endure when you are already sleep deprived, sore and processing the birth you just went through. Trying to feed a hungry baby can add to the stress when they are not quite getting the hang of it. But hang in there momma, because you CAN do it.

I believe many women get discouraged (rightfully so, it can be exhausting!) and stop trying to breastfeed too early. I think there is a window of time that is crucial for success. Let’s call it the milk monster gap, or MMG for short. Those first 2-3 weeks can be a nightmare of exhaustion, frustration and a lot of questions (and the MMG!). If you are in the boat where the baby is having trouble latching, you are supplementing and seeing little progress, let me encourage you! Ask for the lactation consultant at your pediatrician’s office! Try to hold on a few more days. Continue attempting to nurse and supplement if you have to. Once you get over the hump of the MMG (baby and mommy are both frustrated = cranky pair), things go much more smoothly. There is something to be said for milk supply, which is another challenge, that can be very real in the beginning. From my experience, it can take days to a couple weeks for your milk supply to come in and remain consistent. Once your milk builds up, baby will be much more likely to latch, stay on and get a full belly! With my second son, he latched right away and was ready to eat. It was incredible to see the difference from my firstborn. We still had to supplement for the first few days, but my milk came in much faster the second time around. Another emphasis should be put on the lactation consultant. If you are struggling, check in with them. Every pediatrician’s office should have one, or at least resources for finding one. It is the role of the LC to provide physical and emotional support and to help you with proper feeding technique. They can also help you check the baby for tongue ties, which can interrupt proper latching and sucking. Every baby is different, and every momma is different. I believe that every baby and momma deserves the chance to feel successful with breastfeeding, and I believe that they can! It’s just not always a simple start.

LOW MILK SUPPLY. 

Supply can suck. It might be at the beginning of youre breastfeeding journey, it might be at a certain time of the day. Whenever it is, I think all mommas experience a milk drought at some point in their journey. I have always had a pretty good experience with supply, but definitely had to be patient when just starting out. With my first born it took a couple weeks for my milk to flow enough to fill his belly. The good news is that there is usually an explanation for low supply. Hydration, rest, nutrition, how often you are feeding and whether you are pumping are all factors that go into what momma’s milk supply looks like. If you think your little one is not getting enough, try all of the above. Try drinking more water, eating more healthy and calorie rich food (see resources for some recipe suggestions) resting (I know this one feels impossible). If you are up to it, try pumping! Whether it is a manual pump, or an electric (see my product reviews for various pumps I like), pumping for a few minutes each day can help increase your supply (I usually pump for 15-20 minutes to make sure I get the hind milk). Just because you are not producing as much, does not mean you are failing or that you can’t produce! It just means your body needs a little extra love and support.

Clogged Ducts.

OUCH. These are not fun. They can cause you to question why on earth you chose this natural and “amazing??” route for feeding your sweet, adorable little nugget. The pain from clogged ducts can be excruciating, distracting and downright annoying. I experienced them with my first born. I tried the ice, the heat, and the massage in the shower. They eventually resolved, but are no fun to endure. All of the mentioned treatment methods are useful for some people and are recommended, but I think one of the best ways to help can be trying different feeding positions. A good piece of advice I received from my lactation consultant at the time was to feed so that baby’s nose is pointing in the direction of the clogged duct. The idea is that when the baby sucks, they will draw milk from that duct and hopefully help unclog it. Massaging gently from the outside toward the nipple during feedings can also help loosen and unclog the duct. They hurt, and when untreated they can lead to mastitis, which I will get to next. However, they are usually simple to treat and can resolve on their own. If they do not, I recommend reaching out to your doctor. 

Mastitis

La Leche League defines mastitis as “an infection that occurs as a result of an unresolved clogged duct”. If you are experiencing what you think is a clogged duct, reach out to your doctor or try the at home remedies I mentioned above. If the pain has become more intense and your are concerned about infection, let your doctor know, as mastitis can be serious and treated with antibiotics. The link Here provides a list of treatment options at home for clogged ducts and mastitis. Symptoms of mastitis and not a clogged duct can include inflammation and pain with fever. Always consult your doctor if you are concerned. One thing to note that I learned from reading the linked article is that not feeding your baby from the infected side is a myth. It is actually good for baby to feed from the affected side, as it helps with healing and does not harm them. The milk they intake does not change. Breast milk has antibacterial properties that protect your baby!

Milk Blisters

My only experience with milk blisters (BLEBS) was with my first born and using a pump. At the very beginning of my breastfeeding journey I used a pump multiple times a day in the attempt to increase my supply (I do not recommend pumping at this rate unless you are exclusively pumping and not actually nursing your baby). The flanges on the pump irritated my nipples and caused sore and very sensitive blisters to form. This can be a common and very normal side effect of using a not so great pump, using the wrong size flanges, or pumping too much. I have never personally experienced it from nursing, and continuing to nurse on the affected breast will help resolve the BLEB. I have also tried a warm compress and gently flicking the blister with my fingernail to help release them. Be careful not to expose too much skin under the blister as this can cause infection. Other ways to treat BLEBS can be found here: treat those BLEBS!.

The Benefits:

Breast Milk is HEALTHY!

IT IS THE BEST SOURCE OF NUTRITION FOR BABY. The milk itself is designed to change as the baby grows to be exactly what he or she needs. HOW COOL IS THAT!? When baby first arrives, the milk comes in the form of colostrum, what I like to call the “golden milk”. Because baby only takes a little in the beginning with their tiny tummies, they need milk that is extremely rich in nutrients and calories. Hence the golden milk! This is just one way the milk changes for the baby, and it is amazing to witness!

IT PROTECTS BABY’S IMMUNE SYSTEM. The CDC (click here) and the National Institute of Health (click here) states it can protect your baby against various diseases such as asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes and SIDS. Cleveland Clinic states fewer instances for asthma, allergies and eczema, Crohn’s disease, respiratory illnesses, cavities and more (click here). For several years, babies’ immune systems do not fully develop. There is research that shows breast milk helps protect a baby’s immune system as it develops, and actually helps it develop faster than the immune system of a baby that is fed formula. While babies who breastfeed can still get sick, breast milk provides antibodies that help them recover from illnesses faster. I have noticed with my own boys that illness is very uncommon and I credit that to breastfeeding!

IT PROTECTS MOM FROM DISEASE TOO! La Leche League International mentions that breastfeeding leads to decreased risks of multiple cancers including breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical (click here).

It Supports Mom’s and Baby’s Mental Health! 

The Cleveland Clinic has a great list of the ways breastfeeding supports mom’s and baby’s mental and emotional health: mental and emotional health list found here! Something mentioned in the list that I love is the increased opportunity for skin to skin contact, which is helpful in the bonding process of mother and baby and may support the baby’s social and behavioral health later on in their life. Hormones including oxytocin and prolactin are released during nursing which increase happy feelings in the mother, supporting her emotional well being while strengthening her bond with her baby.

It is convenient!

Mom is able to feed the baby anywhere and anytime, because she is both the kitchen and the nutrition! No need to prepare a bottle when you can pop out your own naturally designed milk jugs! And trust me, the baby appreciates the instant meal service. It is also convenient for employers because mothers are more likely to have healthier children and thus have to miss fewer work days (yes, this is true!).

It can serve as natural birth control!

YES! I will get into more of the details about this in another post, because there is some science to delve into in order to really understand how this works! But in summary, breastfeeding causes the release of hormones that can prevent ovulation from happening, thus postponing your period for potentially the duration of time that you feed. Pregnancy cannot happen without ovulation! However, breastfeeding does NOT GUARANTEE that you won’t get pregnant! That is why it is important to continue tracking your fertility even if your cycles have not returned (I use the Marquette NFP method and highly recommend Femme Fertility for great instructors!), because otherwise you might miss the first time you ovulate. Missing ovulation could mean doing the deed at a time when babies are made :D.

Breast Milk is FREE! 

As I have mentioned before, breast milk is a free nutritional resource and will save you some cash in your monthly budget!

To close it out, breast milk is the most biologically friendly nutrition source for babies, and supports their emotional and physical well being! 

YES. Breastfeeding can be hard. There may be times you want to quit! But like most things in life, it is not always going to be perfect, if ever! There will be bumps in the road, but that does not mean you stop going down it. Do not give up momma. You got this! And SOLIDARITY sister, because I know what many of the benefits AND the challenges look and feel like. The thing to remind yourself of in the difficult moments is that it is not forever, it is best for baby, and in the end it is WORTH IT!